Atmospheric-exhaust relief-valve.



PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

J. ACTON. ATMOSPHERIC EXHAUST RELIEF VALVE APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1905.

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PATENTBD OCT.- 9

' J. ACTON.

ATMOSPHERIC EXHAUST RELIEF VALVE.

APPLICATION-FILED SEPT. 22, 1905.

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employ a metal frame or JOHN. ACTON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ATMOSPHERIC-EXHAUST RELIEF-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

Application filed September 22, 1905. Serial No. 279,694.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN AoToN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Atmospheric-Exhaust Relief-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an automatic relief-valve which is of simple and improved construction and efficient in operation.

A further object is to provide means for efficiently governing and controlling the movements of an automatic relief-valve when in operation and for preventing the same from pounding or chattering on its seat.

Other objects of the invention willappear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, and relall as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a valve embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section showing the interior construction and arrangement of a valve embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing modified arrangements of certain details and embraced within the spirit and scope of my invention.

The same part is reference-sign wherever the several views.

In the construction of a valve embodying the principles of my invention I prepare to casing in which is formed vacuum and atmospheric chambers and a valve for controlling the communication between such chambers, with means for suitably guiding the stem of such valve and a piston actuated by the valve and operating in a pneumatic chamber, means for yiel ingly maintaining the valve seated, and means for regulating the flow of air into and out of the pneumatic chamber. These are the, general features of my invention, and the construction and relativearrangement thereit occurs throughout designated by the same of for accomplishing their various functions will now be described.

Referring to the drawings, reference-sign A designates a metal frame or casing containing the several chambers and having the inlet A and the outlet A In the construction shown in Fig. 1 and for convenience in manufacturing the frame or casing is made in sections A, A, A and A though in this respect my invention is not to be limitedor restricted.

3 designates the globe-casing, having an interior annular ring A interposed therein between the inlet A and the outlet A the opening A therethrough forming the valve opening, the said ring A upon the face thereof forming a valve-seat to receive the valve B, this valve B and ring A forming, with the wall A, vacuum-chamber A and the exhaust or atmospheric outlet side of the casing. If desired, a groove A may be formed in the upper face of annular ring A and surrounding the valve B and adapted to contain a liquid, thereby forming a seal for the valve. If desired, a packingring E may be mounted in the bearing-face of the valve B.

In the particular form shown, but to which my invention is not to be limited or restricted, I provide the valve B upon the upper and lower faces thereof with lugs B and B, respectively, and to the lug B, I secure a guiding-stem B and to the lug B I secure, through an adjusting-nut B a piston-rod B. By suitably-adjusting the nut B the relation of the piston-rod B and valve B may be regulated with reference to each other. I do not desire, however, to be limited or restricted in this respect. The frame A is provided with a hollow post A arranged in alinement with the stem B and the said stem is received and works in the longitudinal bore A of said part, thereby forming a guide for guiding the movements of the valve. A stuffing-box B B which may be of any ordinary or suitable construction, is arranged to extend. through the casing or frame, and through which stuffing boX the piston B operates.

In the practical operation of relief-valves of the class to which my invention relates it is important when the vacuum fails that the valve be opened immediately and automatically, so as to permit the exhaust to escape to a partition between the By suitably adjusting the atmosphere and to prevent exhaust compression. Many specifically different constructions may be devised for accomplishing this purpose. While, therefore, I have shown and will now describe one construction which I have found efiicient, I do not desire to be limited or restricted thereto. In the form shown I pivotally mount a lever D intermediate its ends upon a fulcrum-pin D carried by a link D, pivotally mounted upon a pin or stud D carried in a lug D of the casing, and I arrange the lever D to extend through the casing, and upon the outer end thereof I mount a weight D for adjustment therealong. The inner end of lever D is arranged to engage the piston-rod B in any suitable or convenient manner-as, for instance, by means of a spool B mounted upon said piston-rod. From this description it will be seen that the weight D operating through lever D constantly tends to raise valve B from its seat, and consequently whenever the vacuum fails or falls below a predetermined point the valve is automatically unseated, and when the vacuum is again established the valve is again drawn down to its seat, thereby automatically opening and closing the exhaust to the atmosphere. the position of weight D a desirable range of adjustment of the point of opening the valve with reference to the degree of vacuum in the chamber A is secured.

In order to prevent the valve B from pounding upon its seat, thereby making an objectionable noise and at the same time rapidly wearing out or injuring the valve or its seat or the packing-ring IE, it is desirable to control and re ulate the opening and closing movements of the valve. Many specifically-different constructions may be devised for accomplishing this result. While, therefore, I have shown and will now describe one construction and arrangement for this purpose and which I have found eflicient for the purpose, I do not desire to be limited or restricted thereto. In the form shown I provide a pneumatic chamber 0, having a petcock A for controlling the communication of the interior thereof with the outer air. In this chamber I arrange a piston B secured by a nut B upon the piston-rod'B and carrying packing-rings B This piston in the pneumatic chamber 0 is adjustably retarded by governing or controlling the communication between the interior of said chamber and the atmosphere by suitably manipulating the petcock A thereby cushioning the valve B, rendering the same noiseless in its operations, while at the same time avoiding the chattering and pounding of the valve on its seat and also protecting the packing-ring E.

If desired, and as shownin Fig. 3, the section A of the casing may be dispensed with and the pneumatic chamber C mounted directly upon the main valve-casing or the part A thereof. In this case the lever D and its connections are located upon the top of section A, and said lever is connected to the piston-rod B through a link B, the pistonrod extending through a stufling-box B in the upper end wall of said section A".

It may sometimes be desired to insure a rapid action of the valve. In the accomplishment of this object I have shown in Fig. 3 the central part A dispensed with and the valve-stem B provided with a base-valve B held upon said stem by means of a thimble B and a nut B A yoke B supports a spring B coiled upon stem B and the tension of which may be regulated by a nut B mounted upon the stem B, which is threaded as indicated at B. The base-valve B is provided with arms B, which operate in the recess or chamber A of a central base A formed in the main casing, and thereby serve as guides for the base-valve and the stem B The operation of the device will be readily understood and, briefly, is as follows: When the water stops circulating in the condenser or when from other cause the condenser ceases, the vacuum fails. Under these conditions the valve B immediately and automatically opens and allows the exhaust to escape to the atmosphere, thereby preventing trouble from exhaust compression. When the vacuum again is established, the valve is drawn to its seat, being cushioned in its seating movement by the operation of the packing-rings in the pneumatic chamber.

Many variations and changes in the details of construction and arrangement mi ht readily suggest themselves to persons skil ed in the art and still fallwithin the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and a construction embodying the principles thereof and having explained such construction, its purpose, and mode of operation, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic atmospheric-exhaust relief-valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet and a vacuum-chamber, a valve arranged in said casing to control the opening of said chamber to the atmosphere, a pistonrod connected to said valve, and arranged to move in the direction of movement of the valve, said casing having a pneumatic chamber communicating with the outer air, and a piston arranged in said pneumatic chamber and connected to said rod, whereby the movements of said valve are cushioned.

2. In an automatic atmospheric-exhaust relief-valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet opening, and a vacuum-chamber, and

an air-chamb er, a valve arranged to controlthe communicatlon between said vacuum-chamber and said outlet-opening, said air-chamb er communicating with the outer air, and means arranged in said air-chamber and connected to said val-Vethrough-a rod arranged to move in the direction of movement thereof for cushtioning the movements of the latter.

3. In an automatic atmospheric-exhaust relief-valve, a casing havin an inlet-opening and an outlet-opening, a Va ve arranged within said casing, and adapted to be operated automatically, a piston, a piston-rod connected to said valve, and arranged to move in the direction of movement thereof, an air-chamber in which said piston operates, and means for controlling the flow of air into and out of said air-chamber.

4. In an automatic relief-valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet opening, and a vacuum-chamber, a valve arranged within said casing to control the communication between said vacuum-chamber and said outlet- 0 ening, an air-chamber, a piston arranged t erein and connected to said valve, and a petcock for controlling the supply and exhaust of air to and from said air-chamber.

5. In an automatic relief-valve, a casing having an inlet-opening and. an outlet-opening, and a vacuum-chamber, a valve, means connected to said valve and normally operating thereon to unseat the same, a pistonrod connected to the valve, to move in the direction of movement thereof, a piston connected to said rod, a chamber in which said piston operates, and means for controlling the movements of said piston in said chamher.

6. In an automatic relief-valve, a casing having an inlet-opening and an exhaustopening and a vacuum-chamber, a valve, means connected to said valve and normally tending to unseat the same, means for guiding the valve in its movements, and means connected to the valve for adjustablyretarding the movements thereof.

7. In an automatic relief-valve, a casing having an inlet and outlet opening and a vacuum-chamber, an annular ring arranged within the casing and forming a valve-seat, a valve cooperating With said seat, said ring having a channel in the face thereof, adapted to receive-a liquid to form a seal for the valve.

8. In an automatic relief-valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet opening and a vacuum-chamber, an annular ring arranged within said casing, intermediate said outletopening and said vacuum-chamber, and forming a valve-seat, a valve cooperating with said seat, means normally tending to unseat said valve, and means for adjustably controlling the rate of movement of said valve.

9. In an automatic relief-valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet opening, and a vacuum-chamber, an annular ring arranged.

Withinsaid casing, intermediate said outletopening and said vacuum-chamber, and forming a valve-seat, a valve cooperating with said seat and havinga stem means forreceiving and guiding said stem during the movements of said valve, an air-chamber, a piston arranged therein and connected to said valve, and means for controlling the flow of air into and out of said air-chamber, whereby the rate of movement of said valve may be varied.

10. In an automatic relief-valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet opening and a vacuum-chamber, an annular ring arranged Within said casing, intermediate said outletopening and said vacuum-chamber, and forming a valve-seat, a valve cooperating therewith, yielding means connected with said valve and normally tending to unseat the same, an air-chamber, a piston arranged therein and connected to said valve, and means for controlling the flow of air into and out of said air-chamber, whereby the rate of movement of the valve may be varied.

11. In an automatic relief-valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet opening, and a vacuum-chamber, an annular ring arranged Within said casing, intermediate said outletopening and said vacuum-chamber, and forming a valve-seat, a valve cooperating therewith, a pivotally-mounted weighted lever connected to said valve, an air-chamber, a piston arranged therein and connected to said valve, and means for controlling the flow of air into and out of said air-chamber.

12. In an automatic relief-valve, a casing having an inlet-opening and an outlet-opening, and a vacuum-chamber, an annular ring arranged within said casing and forming a valve-seat intermediate the vacuum-chamber and the outlet-opening, a valve cooperating with said seat, yielding means connected with said valve and normally tending to unseat the same, means for controlling the rate of movement of said valve, and an auxiliary valve connected to said first-mentioned valve.

13. In an automatic relief-valve, a casing having an inlet-opening and an outlet-opening, and a vacuum-chamber, an annular ring arranged in said casing to form a valve-seat, intermediate said vacuum-chamber, and said outlet-opening, a valve having a packingring arranged in the face thereof and cooperating With the valve-seat, a piston-rod connected to said valve, a pivotally-mounted weighted lever connected to said piston-rod, an air-chamber, a piston operating therein and connected to said rod, and a petcock extending into said air-chamber.

14. In an automatic relief-valve, a casing having an inlet-opening and an outlet-opening, and a vacuum-chamber, an annular ring arranged within said chamber to form a valveseat intermediate said vacuum-chamber and the outlet-opening, a valve cooperating with said seat, a piston-rod, means for adjustably Signed at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings connecting the same to said valve, a Weighted and State of New York, this 19th day of Seplever connected to said rod, an air-chamber, tember, A. D. 1905.

a piston carried by said rod and operating in JOHN ACTON. said air-chamber, and means for controlling Witnesses: o the flow of air into and out of said air-cham- CHARLES PFITZENREUTER, ber. ADOLPH BAUSER. 

